Chapter 364: The Protagonists' Intense Competition
"You? This…?"
Gu Yue was bewildered, utterly shaken. Han Li's actions had surpassed her understanding, even if it was just a small blade of Blue Silver Grass.
"I told you, after reaching level 100, I've had a small improvement. This is part of the authority of a plane's master. I'm just borrowing it for now, I still need to learn and master it, just like you."
Han Li didn't hide anything. He still needed her insights into the laws for feedback, and blind arrogance would serve no purpose.
Gu Yue hesitated several times, feeling as if Han Li was an enigma. What kind of plane's master was like him? If such a thing were possible, why would their power be limited to just a second class god?
But it was clear Han Li didn't want to elaborate further. Since it also benefited her growth, she chose not to dwell on it, instead fully immersing herself in comprehending the power of Creation.
What she didn't notice was that every time she reached a bottleneck, a faint green hue would flicker deep within her soul, along with a strange resonance. And just like that, she would suddenly realize, "Oh, so that's how it works," and her insights would continue to flow smoothly.
Han Li, on the other hand, naturally noticed it. But after a few subtle tests that left Gu Yue looking puzzled, he decided to drop the matter.
Forget it. This was probably an inherited, latent aspect of her lineage. In the end, he was freeloading off her cheat ability, so he had no complaints. He actually wished her progress would be even faster.
After all, his "Law Magnifier" ability wasn't as effective in this domain. Even though he could personally experience creation, he still lagged slightly behind. But with their souls linked, Gu Yue could gain a deeper understanding simultaneously.
What else was there to say? Just cling tightly to this big white dragon and power forward!
For the first time in a long while, Han Li fully devoted himself to extended cultivation.
When not training, he used his spatial abilities to visit different locations, strengthen relationships, observe the progress of various god trials, and assist in clearing obstacles for quicker advancement.
Interestingly, the fastest progress wasn't made by Ye LingLing it was actually his master and Golden Crocodile Douluo.
Once they officially entered their divine trials, many of the tests were easier for them due to their extensive experience. The fastest among them, Golden Crocodile, had already reached the seventh stage of the War God Trial, earning Han Li's admiration.
Their past disadvantage of age had now transformed into an advantage of strength and wisdom. Though their rewards weren't as generous as those of the younger candidates, the progress was still gratifying.
As for Bibi Dong, she had disappeared for quite some time. With the continent at peace, she had left everything in the hands of her old workhorses, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, while she focused on clearing the Rakshasa trials.
Ma Hongjun was dead.
Han Li learned of this casually from Qian Renxue during one of their chats in Heaven Dou City.
He had died from a highly toxic mixture supposedly, after a night of indulgence, he had just stepped onto the street when he suddenly collapsed, dead on the spot.
After consulting the plane's consciousness, Han Li confirmed a surprising fact: Tang San had secretly poisoned him after they entered the finals.
Before the match, Ma Hongjun had explicitly stated his intention to part ways after the tournament.
Upon learning this, Qian Renxue had Dugu Bo check on Oscar, and sure enough, he was also poisoned. Unlike Ma Hongjun, his toxin was weaker and more subtle it would only activate upon contact with certain plants, otherwise remaining dormant.
With the knowledge he had gained from Han Li about all Tang Sect poisons, Dugu Bo easily identified and neutralized the toxin.
Upon hearing the news, Flender seemed to age a decade overnight.
Ignoring Salas's surveillance, he and Zhao Wuji left Heaven Dou City and returned to the old Shrek Academy site in Soto City, where they drowned themselves in alcohol daily, as if their very spirits had been sucked dry.
When Han Li heard about this later, he simply shook his head. It had nothing to do with him anymore.
At most, it was a mildly amusing anecdote.
Come on, he was busy.
Back in the Restoration Space, Han Li and Gu Yue emerged from their dual cultivation session, restoring their soul energy while casually chatting.
Ironically, due to their training, they ended up spending the most time together. Over time, their interactions had become much more natural.
Gu Yue watched enviously as Han Li played with the Evil God Orb in his hand his comprehension of laws was progressing far faster than she had anticipated.
In just over three months, he had mastered all three of her remaining elemental laws. The only area where she still had the upper hand was Creation, but in everything else, she was completely outmatched.
Even though they had both been exposed to these laws simultaneously, Han Li was inexplicably faster. Like now, for example, as he manipulated the Evil God Orb, invoking the power of Corruption.
They had been exposed to the same thing at the same time, yet after reaching the introductory stage, Han Li's comprehension had skyrocketed, leaving her far behind.
Sure, she had dedicated most of her focus to Creation, but she still couldn't understand his absurd learning speed.
For laws he hadn't yet fully mastered, Han Li could share his insights with her and even take her to directly experience their essence. However, he couldn't imprint them onto her consciousness.
This was something she truly couldn't wrap her head around.
Faced with her confusion, Han Li merely smiled and never answered directly.
Joking aside, every time he tapped into the power of destiny, it left him exhausted for half a day before he could recover. And it wasn't just the power of evil his ambitions ran far deeper.
Gu Yue's power of creation, its opposing power of destruction, the power of evil he drew from the Evil God Orb, the corresponding power of goodness, and even the Killing God Domain, which he had long since fused, were all secretly separated and used for training in Shura God's judgment and verdict powers.
The fundamental laws of the Five Great God Kings he had no intention of leaving a single one behind. If he succeeded, once he fully formed his Law Ring, he would truly be capable of a one versus five battle.
With the plane's consciousness feeding him knowledge and Gu Yue unknowingly accelerating his progress, mastering even just one of these laws would allow his strength to skyrocket exponentially. And what if he mastered two? Or even more?
Even in the worst case scenario, even if he failed to meet his expectations, just having a deep understanding of these laws would significantly improve his ability to counter them.
No doubt, the gods possessed techniques beyond their core laws, but their divine positions were undoubtedly most powerful when aligned with their inherent laws. Thus, from the beginning, Han Li had abandoned the idea of mastering weaker laws just to make things easier.
To him, gods below the God King level posed little threat given his access to plane authority, he wasn't afraid of them, even without using any special techniques.
As for the Five God Kings, just as Gu Yue had said, mastering more elemental laws wouldn't necessarily be enough to threaten them. So, since he was gambling on this battle, he might as well go all in.
Besides, it wasn't impossible for him to succeed, was it?
He didn't need to master all five laws completely. In fact, as long as he fully grasped just one, it would be enough.
And he had already chosen Creation because mastering Creation meant mastering Destruction as well.
These two laws were the most crucial. By merging them, he could create an entirely new divine realm.
Long ago, he had realized that his divine realm already existed it was Douluo Star itself.
As long as he fully mastered both laws, when he finally condensed his divine position, he could achieve an unprecedented double divine ascension.
With destiny as his foundation, ice and fire as his support, and the rest as fuel he would forge his path to God King status.
With Douluo Star as his core, merging the powers of Creation and Destruction, he would ascend even further, breaking through the barriers of the Divine Realm and surpassing the old order.
Even if he only became the weakest Creation God he would still be a Creation God.
And that was only the worst case scenario. Right now, he was still pushing his limits, still grinding away at the laws this wasn't the end of his path.
In truth, Gu Yue was one of the most critical pieces in this grand design.
This, too, was a revelation given to him by the Law of Destiny.
If she succeeded, the soul beast race would truly rise again.
If she failed even if Han Li became a god, he would have to lie low and bide his time, waiting for another opportunity.
Not because he had placed all his bets on her he was working just as hard himself.
But when it came to understanding the power of Creation, he simply couldn't match her speed.
Sure, he had his "cheat" abilities, but she had a literal divine parent.
Han Li gave Gu Yue a complicated look.
What happened to "no power surpasses the will of heaven"?
Wasn't he supposed to be the will of heaven?
"What is it?"
Gu Yue looked at him strangely. She was the one who envied him why was he staring at her like that?
"Nothing. Hurry up and recover. As soon as you're ready, we'll start the next round of training."
Since he was suffering, she had to suffer too.
No breaks. No excuses. Keep training.
"…Oh."
Gu Yue numbly nodded. This was already the second time today that Han Li had rushed her.
She was already working as hard as she could.
Did all human soul masters train like this?
She didn't know much about the human gods, but if they were all like Han Li, then maybe it was no wonder that the gods of the soul beast race had lost.
She glanced enviously at Han Li, who was once again deep in thought, playing with the Evil God Orb. Then, she closed her eyes and quickened her recovery.
If someone like him who had a way out was still grinding like this, what right did she have to slack off?
A gentle breeze rippled across the Life Lake, its surface shimmering as the two figures sat side by side.
It was an undeniably beautiful scene.
Yet beneath that beauty, both were quietly competing, desperately racing to surpass each other.
Meanwhile, in Spirit Hall…
Inside the Papal Palace, Bibi Dong stepped out of the Rakshasa Illusion Realm and skimmed through the reports handed to her by the two elders.
After a brief glance, she issued a single order, then turned and left once again.
The whereabouts of the Worship Hall's members were still a mystery.
She could only force herself to move faster.
This time, she would pass the Eighth Trial.
She had no choice.
She had to succeed.
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/johanssen